Tag: natural beauty

Skincare: An Essential or A Scam?

I was one of those few God’s favorites who had clear skin and perfect hair during my early and mid-teens. To my horror, my late-teens turned out to be a can of worms when I started getting oily skin, breakouts, acne, frizz, dandruff, hair fall, and what-not.

One of the main misconceptions about having oily skin is that people advise you to wash your face often to keep the oiliness at bay. Not knowing better, I followed the routine religiously. My mom and my grandma recommended some DIYs that could potentially benefit my skin. So, I tried putting lemon, baking soda, cinnamon powder, and other nasties to restore the natural oil balance. I never applied moisturizer or sunscreen for fear that it may make my skin oilier. I basically went all the way out, trying to get back my perfect skin. Unknowingly, I did more harm than good.

Fast forward to my days in college. I was tremendously insecure about my never-ending acne while all the other girls flaunted their flawless skin. I started wearing makeup in hopes that it would conceal my blemishes and imperfections. Again, I did not follow the correct methods in applying or removing the makeup.

I finally gave up thinking that perfect skin was not for me. I reverted back to my old ways when I let my skin do what it does naturally. It did not improve my skin, but it did not worsen it too. This was the time that I came across an Instagram page of a skincare blogger. Despite my skepticism, I was curious about what she had to say. I browsed through her feed. Based on her experience and reviews, I figured that she knew what she was talking about.

I messaged her and told her about my woes. She recommended that I start off simple with a mild cleanser, a moisturizer, and sunscreen. I decided to give it a try. What did I have to lose anyway? To this day, that was the best decision that I had ever taken.

After noticing a few positive changes in my skin, I researched various products. I desperately wanted to get it right this time. I thought a skincare routine might seem like high maintenance, but it really wasn’t. I learned that investing early in skincare could have lasting effects. Besides, less is more. It is vital to not layer too many products. Skincare makes you age gracefully. As we know, prevention is always better than cure. So, why take chances with your skin?

The basic skincare regimen consists of only three steps: cleanse, moisturize and protect against the sun. It is necessary to invest in a mild cleanser, a hydrating moisturizer, and a sunscreen having an SPF of at least 30. The first step is to identify your skin type and your skin concerns. The next step is to know the layering of your products. The final and crucial step is consistency. After following this routine initially, you can build on it using toners, exfoliators, serums, face masks, facial oils, etc.

Skincare is not an overnight miracle. It does not provide a temporary fix but gets the ball rolling to healthier skin. Patience is the key to seeing good results. You have to test different products to find which works best for you. To commit fully to having healthy skin, you should be ready to invest your time, energy, and money.

Every skin is unique. The same product can give different results for another person. A bad experience with a product does not signify that it is not a quality product. Based on your age, allergies, expectations, skin needs, preference of a fragrance or a texture, the results and experiences vary.

The billion-dollar skincare industry is growing steadily every day and doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. For the most part, it consists of fraudulent and deceptive claims. A new brand launches a new product every hour. The industry thrives by feeding on your insecurities and flaws. Even though we don’t need most skincare products, the companies persuade us to buy more and more products. But, that does not mean that the entire industry is a scam. Ultimately, it is in our hands to not fall prey to the scamming leeches and invest in the right products.

Skincare changed my life for the better. It boosted my confidence and made me feel comfortable in my own skin. “Perfect skin” does not exist. Instead, healthy skin is what we should strive for.

Khawa Ijen: The Electric Blue Beauty

Nature has its own way to astonish us. Sometimes, in the forms of blooms, sometimes in the form of volcanoes. Now, when we hear volcane, the first picture that comes to our mind must be of red, hot and viscous lava, flowing down the edges of the volcano. But that image is going to change soon, hopefully. And the credit goes to the Ijen, a volcano complex in Indonesia.

The Blue Beauty

Indonesia, apart from being the country with the largest number of volcanoes, also houses a natural uniquiety, Kawah Ijen volcano. Part of the Ijen volcano complex, situated in East Java, Indonesia, this volcano is famous for two things: a mass of electric blue liquid flowing down the sides of the volcano and the lake situated in its crater. Also known as the Kawah Ijen Crater lake, this lake has the status of being the largest highly acidic crater lake. The acidity of the water can be as high as 0.5  at the edges and 0.13  in the middle, in terms of pH. Due to the high levels of acidity, the water of this lake maintains a turquoise shade. This lake also happens to be the origin source of the river Banyupahit, which obviously, also has a high concentration of acidic compounds and metals. 

The reason behind the high acidity of the lake is that the water is saturated with hydrochloric acid. The source of this hydrochloric acid is the hydrogen chloride gas emitted by the volcano. The hydrogen chloride gas, when reacts with the water, gives rise to hydrochloric acid, with pH upt almost 0. The acidity sometimes imparts a slightly strong green colour to the water sometimes.

The reason for this electric blue wonder, though, is just pure, simple chemistry. Between sulphur and oxygen. Sulphuric gas, originating under high pressure and temperature (600°C) conditions, emerge through cracks and vents in the volcano structure. Coming in contact with the atmosphere (360°C), specifically oxygen, triggers the sulphur to combust, in the process, shooting flames at a height upto 5 metres (16 feet). 

When the gases condense into liquid sulfur, while burning, this liquid flows down the volcano slopes, along with the sulfur rich lava, giving the ultimate spectacle of blue flames. Infact, this phenomenon is also known as the Api Biru (Blue Fire) amongst the locals.

Needless to say, there is a vast expanse of sulfur in this volcanic structure. And as a part of the industrial development, this treasure mine of a resource has also been tapped. Naturally, the burning gases, on gradual condensation, deposit sulphur around the lakes. To speed up the production of sulphur, a mining company has devised their own system to aid the condensation. They have installed ceramic pipes on an active vent near the edge of the lake, which condenses and liquefies the sulfur gases passing through them. To assist this process, miners often spray cold water over the pipes. This liquid sulfur is diverted through the vent slopes to get deposited onto the sulfur mats, where they solidify. 

The miners cut these sulfur into manageable pieces and take them down the mountains on their back. They are known to carry loads of around 80 to 100 kilograms once everyday, or twice, if they work through the night. Apart from that, they also collect sulphur stalactites, which sometimes form from the dripping sulphur drops, to sell to the tourists. And for the elemental chunks of sulphur, they get about 680 Indonesian rupiah (about 6 USD cents) per kilo. 

The Darker Side 

The working conditions are far from ideal. Not only have they been exposed to highly toxic volcanic ashes and gases, more so due to the lack of protection, but also are at risk due to the dangerous trek they need to do to reach the carter. Many miners suffer from chronic and severe health problems due to the inhalation of the toxic sulfuric air, over a long period of time. Several media houses and individuals have made documentaries and pieces regarding the plight of these local sulfur miners.

Speaking of the tourists, this incredible phenomenon got its due attention when National Geography mentioned about this place. Since then, Ijen has witnessed a surge of tourists, whose most preferred activity is a night time, two hour hike to enjoy the electric blue flames in the fullest glory. But certainly not without precautionary measures!

Website Reference:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/1/140130-kawah-ijen-blue-flame-volcanoes-sulfur-indonesia-pictures/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ijen

https://interestingengineering.com/blue-lava-largest-sulfuric-acid-lake-ijen-volcano

Image Credit: Reddit